Czech 1

Czech

Do you or your child need to pass an important exam at elementary or high school? Do you need to pass an exam for residency or citizenship? Or do you just want to learn Czech for any other reason?

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What we will focus on ↓

Czech for Foreigners

We will work with the materials you already have, or we will choose what the best option for you is, depending on your need and purpose. Apart from grammar and writing, we may focus also on two different registers of Czech - the spoken one and the written one. We will try to get you where you need to be as fast as possible!

Literature

We will look at literary genres, how to recognize them, what their history and the main authors are. We will discuss some texts from a closer view and you will be analyzing them - I will give you feedback how you would do at a graduation exam.

Grammar

We will learn how to diagram sentences: subject, predicate, object, types of sentence structure, main and subordinate clauses, word classes and forms. We will find out how orthography plays into all this. We will practice grammar analysis till you are sure you can do it on your own!

Writing

We will look at various genres, how to meet the assignment, how to structure your text, what kind of vocabulary is expected and what to be aware about. You will try to write your own text, I will correct it and then we will discuss what and how to improve it.

English

English

Do you want to speak more fluently? Prepare for exams? Get new motivation? Improve your vocabulary? Find a better job where English is needed? Go abroad? Study? Get more grounded in grammar? Or simply have conversation?

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What we will focus on ↓

Grammar

We will put all English tenses into one simple chart from which it will be clear which ones need more attention and which ones are not used frequently and why. Similarly, we will tackle principles behind the usage of the articles. Our focus will depend on your need and context. Grammar is fun!

Speaking

If you need to strengthen your speaking skills, be it conversation or presentation, you are at the right place! Conversation or role play will be an important part of every lesson. I will be giving you feedback and correct you with the sensitivity to what level you are at and how confident you feel.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary focus will depend on your purpose and context - business English, technical terms, accounting, graduation exam, phrasal verbs for CAE, just anything. To remember a new word, a person needs to encounter it roughly eight times - we will find out what your opportunities are to encounter it also outside of our classes.

Writing

Writing depends on whether you need to use English formally, or mainly in conversation. If you are preparing for an exam, we will practice writing texts as required by the particular exam. If you need to write emails or anything else, I will give you ample feedback until you are happy with the result.

Hebrew

Biblical Hebrew

Biblical Hebrew is not as dead as one might think. If you are a college or seminary student, studying Jewish studies or theology, or someone who simply wants to better understand the Bible in the original language, let us dive in and be carried!

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What we will focus on ↓

Learning to read

We will look at the peculiarities of Hebrew alphabet, we will see that there is certain logic to the vowel changes, and we will get acquainted with “nikkud” – graphical vocalization of the vowels. We will start reading sounds and syllables, and if you are already comfortable, we will try to increase fluency. If you feel fluent enough, we will give more space to grammar and translation.

Grammar

There are many grammar software programs that will parse Hebrew for you. Before we work with those, we will have an overview of basic grammar concepts and peculiarities, making them connected to the language/s you already know. We will look at the differences in the interpretation of certain tenses and phrases in prose and in poetry. We will have fun.

Vocabulary

This is the most easily accessible area for a newcomer, but it never stops being interesting even for an advanced learner. We will have a look at various meanings that the words can have in different contexts, and sometimes also what their equivalents in other Ancient Near East languages would mean.

Translation

This is probably your ultimate goal and purpose, so we will start working on translating texts as soon as possible. We will be working on both easier and more difficult passages and on any passages that you will desire.

Greek

NT Greek

NT Greek is a case-based language. What does it mean? There is a lot to learn but the reward is great: a more sharpened focus on the relationships within the text. If you are a seminary student, need to pass an exam, or just want to understand the Bible in the original, the doors are open.

Choose a course /lesson

What we will focus on ↓

Learning to read

Greek has some overlap with the Russian alphabet, so if you are familiar with that you are already on your way. Even if you are a beginner, you will likely find reading it quite straightforward, because Greek is mostly read the way it is written, i.e., one letter corresponds to one sound - unlike in English.

Grammar

If you are a speaker of a case-based language, this is already a win for you. If you are not, Greek grammar is interesting especially for its syntax. We will see that although Greek has a more or less free word order unlike, e.g., English, the word endings indicate quite precisely where a word belongs in a sentence. From there it is an exciting discovery and unfolding of meaning.

Vocabulary

This is the most easily accessible area for a newcomer, but it never stops being interesting even for an advanced learner. Many Greek words sound familiar to Indo-European language speakers but sometimes the meaning has quite shifted. For those of you who are interested, we might inquire into the Septuagint and the peculiarities of its translation from Hebrew.

Translation

Czech

To je jiné kafe! = "That's a different kind of coffee!", meaning "Now we're talking!"